jefferies



(No Model.) 4 Sheet sSheet 1.

S.;.JEFFERIES. I BRICK 0R TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

No.. 501,620. Patentd-JuIy 18', 1893 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. JEFPERIES.

Patented July 18, 1893.

BRICK 0R TILE GUTTING MACHINE.

(N0 Model (NoIModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S.JBPPERIES.

BRICK 0R TILE CUTTING MACHINE. No. 501,620! Patented July 18, 1893.

4 sham-sheet 4,

(No Model.)

s. JEPFERIES. BRICK 0R TILHOUTTI-NG MACHINE-1?:

Patented July 18', 18-93.

'of the stream of clay.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

SAMUEL JEFFERIES, OF STROUD, ENGLAND.

BRICK O R TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,620, dated July 18, 1893.

Application filed July 30, 1892'. Serial No. 441.650. (N 0 model.)

which are arranged a number of cutting wires.-

The object of my invention is to improve the capabilities and efficiency of such machines, both by increasing the working speed, and by rendering the machine independent of the manipulations of the attendant.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to utilize the movement of, the stream of clay for setting in action the cutting mechanism, so that the intermittent operations of cutting off. the bricks are efiected automatically at the proper moment, without attention from the men, who will have nothing to do but remove the bricks after being severed by the cutting Wires, either by hand, or by mechan ism hereinafter described.

According to my invention, I employ a table or carriage onto which the stream of clay from the die is delivered, in the same way as is alreadycustomary with the machines of asimilar class. The clay fed from behind continues to advance along the table, until there is a sufficient length to make any desired number of bricks, say,nine or ten. At this point, the clay comes in contact with a stop or door mounted on a table, which table being movable longitudinally under the impulse of the advancing stream of clay, begins to travel in the same direction. The movement given to the table is immediately communicated to clutch mechanism, which causes a rotary movement from a pulley, continuously rotated by a suitable motor, to be given to a shaft mounted in bearings in the framing of the machine. In connection with this shaft, are arranged the cutting wires, which are mounted on the same carriage as the table, but have an independent movement transverse to the line of travel The rotary movement given to the shaft above mentioned at the whence they are removed in due course.

moment the table begins to travel under the impelling influence of the stream of clay, is utilized, through the medium of suitably arranged gearing, to draw the cutting Wires across the line of travel of the stream of clay, which is thereby severed into short portions or bricks. Immediately the wires are pulled through the clay, the separated bricks and table are caused to travel longitudinally faster than the stream of clay issuing from the die. On the return of the wires, the bricks, which now rest upon a board advanced to receive them, are pushed to the side of the machine, In lieu of having the wires drawn across the stream of clay, the latter may be thrust against the wires, which in this case, with the exception of the first wire, which severs the stream near the die, have no movement transverse of the line of travel of the clay. After one length of clay is severed, the table has to be returned to its original position, to take a fresh portion.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention :Figure l is a longitudinal section of the machine in which the wires are drawn through the clay. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, showing mechanism for lifting the finished bricks clear of the machine; Fig. 3 a plan; Fig. 4 a view of the main clutch gear detached. Fig. 5 is a view of the secondary clutch gear, also detached. Figs. 4 and 5 are side and plan views of detached portions of the brick-removing mechanism. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of a modification in which a length of clay is first severed from the stream, and then pushed through the cutting wires.

A is a stationary frame or table carrying four Wheels a, upon which rests a longitudinallymovable carriage or table B. The stream of clay issuing from the die, first passes over the rollers b, mounted in the oil trough B, at-

tached to the end of the carriage B, and thence to a carriage O, which is mounted upon the carriage B, and travels therewith. This carriage C is capable of an independent movement on guides a, transverse tothe line of travel of the carriage B, and provides for the operation of the strained cutting wires 0'. upon the clay.

c. c are supporting arms for the movable boards placed to receive the bricks when formed. The cutting wires c., which, in the machine illustrated in Sheets I and II of the drawings, are all movable with the carriage 0 across the line of advance of the clay, are stretched vertically between'a rail or bar 0*, held at the extremities of the arms 0, bolted to brackets on the carriage C, and a rail or bar c secured to another portion of the same carriage. The arms 0 which support the bar 0*, being somewhat elastic, give an elasticity to the cutting wires which is very desirable.

D is a bridge piece extending longitudinally of the carriage C, and bolted to thecarriage B.

(Z is a stop upon the end of the carriage B farthest from the clay die, which stop may be hinged to the bridge at cl'., so as to open and give way to the advancing stream of clay under certain circumstances. This stop dis intended to intercept the advance of the stream of clay, and thereby communicate the movement thereof to the carriage B, and the parts supported thereby, in order to set in motion the mechanism for cutting up the clay into bricks. This is effected in the following manner:--E is a spur wheel mounted loosely on a horizontal shaft F. To this wheel E, and to the ratchet wheel e. in connection therewith, rotary movement is continuously given from any suitable motor by the pinion e. on the driving shaft c of the machine.

G is a radial arm keyed on the shaft F, and provided with a hookf'. for engaging with the ratchet wheel 6, and a pawl f for engaging with the ratchet wheel h, which, with the bevel wheel l'I fast thereto, is loose on the shaft F. Thus, by means of the hook f, the spur wheel E may be locked to the shaft F, and the rotary movement of the former communicated to the latter, and, by means of the pawl f, the pinion H may be locked to the shaft F, so that the rotation of the shaft is imparted to the pinion.

I is a bevel wheel in gear with the bevel wheel H.

.I is a crank arm fast with the wheel I.

j is a link rod connecting the crank arm J. with the carriage C.

K is a cam wheel keyed on the shaft F, so as to rotate therewith.

L is a lever pivoted to the main frameor snpportA (see Fig. 1), and having a bowl Z, about midway of its length, in engagement with the cams of the wheel K.

L isa link pivoted at one end to the lever L, and at the other to the carriage B.

The machine is at rest, except for the spur wheel'rotating loosely on its shaft until the stream of clay from the die reaches the stop (1. At this point, the carriage B, which carries the stop, is caused, under the pressure of the advancing clay, to move in the direction of travel of the latter. The hook f, which is normally held clear of the ratchet wheel 6. by a projection b* (see Fig. 4:), carried by the table F, pressing on its tail, is released when the table is advanced, and, under the influence of a spring wherewith it is provided, engages with the said ratchet wheel c. The result of this engagement is, that the arm G (and with it the shaft F to which it is keyed) is carried round with the continuously-rotating spur wheel E. At the same time, the tail of the pawl f is released when the arm G begins to move, and the pawl being provided with a spring, is pressed into engagement with one of the two teeth of the ratchet wheel h, fixed to the bevel wheel H,- which thereupon begins to rotate, and communicate its rotation to the bevel wheel I and crank J. The rotation of the crank J, as before explained, has the effect of pulling the whole of the carriage C, including the cutting wires, across the line of travel I the rest of the gear, comes into action, and isso arranged as to give an advance movement to the carriage B, through the lever L, independentof,and fasterthan the advance of the stream of clay. The object of this independent and quicker movement, is to give time for the removal of the severed bricks to one side, before they are overtaken by the clay continuously advancing at an even speed, and to allow the parts to come back to the proper position to receive a fresh length to be cut up. The return of the parts, and the removal of the bricks to oneside, is managed by the continued movement of the cam wheel,which returns the carriage B as the bowl Z. follows the cam, and by the crank J and bevel wheel I, which latter is proportioned to make a complete revolution, so as to bring the carriage (1 across and back again, before the pawl f is disengaged from the ratchet wheel h. by a suitable trip 72]., which occurs at the half rotation (see dotted position Fig. 5). The hook f. remains in engagement with the ratchet 6. until thrown out by the stop on the carriage B, now fully returned by the cam wheel to its position of rest, until afresh portion of the stream of clay has sufficiently advanced to start the machine again.

In the drawings, the machine is shown at the point just previous to the return movement of the carriage B.

To prevent adhesion between the stream of clay and the table of the carriage O, the rollers b. rotating in the oil trough l3 are used to deliver oil to the under side of the said stream. The bridge D and the stop (Z. may be supplied with lubricant by hand, by means of a brush. I prefer to use an oiling arrangement such as I have shown at Fig. 1 of the draw ings, a small oil tank T bolted to the back of the bridge D.

t. t are branch pipes delivering one (if) over the roller U, which is mounted on a vertical spindle standing above a tray projecting from the oil trough B the other (t') delivering onto to guide the oil in a proper direction. The roller U is held elastically against the side of the stream of clay with which it is always lightly in contact, and to which it conveys suflicient lubricant to prevent adhesion to the bridge D. The elastic mounting of the roller U is conveniently managed as shown in the drawings, where the spindle or axis of the roller U. stands upon a radial arm 10, which. turns loosely upon the vertical shaft W, save.

for the coiled spring surrounding the latter, and attached to it at one end, while at the other it is attached to the arm w, the tendency of the springbeing to keep the roller U in contact with the stream of clay.

For removing the finished bricks from the machine where they rest with the movable board on the arms 0 0 I employ a parallel mechanism (see Fig.2), which, on being put in action by the attendant, lifts or slides the board carrying the bricks bodily off the arms 0 0 onto a barrow or traveling band placed in position. to receive it, but not shown in the drawings. This parallel mechanism consists of a pair of horizontal rods M M. mounted in bearings carried by brackets extending downward from the carriage B. To these rods M M, are rigidly secured tWo pairs of upstanding arms m. m. Each pair m. m is connected by bars m The whole structure m, m, m forms a parallel rocking frame.

N is an arm keyed upon the rod M., and N is an arm mounted parallel to the arm N upon the shaft 0, which is carried in any suitable way in the machine. 7

'n is a'link connecting the arms N. N.

n. is a continuation link connecting with the cross-head p, loosely mounted upon the continuously rotating shaft P.

p. is a ratchet wheel fasten the shaft. P, and capable of becoming locked with the cross head 19. by means of a spring pawl 10?. thereon, when the latter is suffered to engage with the ratchet wheel. The engagement is effected when the bell-crank foot lever B Fig. 4 fulcrumed on the shaft 0, is rocked by the attendant, so as to clear the end r. from the tail of the pawl 10 The shaft P, which is situated at right angles to the shaft F in suitable bearings, receives its continuous rotation by means of a bevel wheel 19 which engages with a bevel wheel formed on the boss of the continuously-rotating spur Wheel E previously mentioned. Thus, when the crosshead pis locked to the shaft P by means of the pawl and ratchet 19 p'., the said cross head is carried round with the shaft, andcauses, by means of the link rods n. n, the parallel mechanism on the rod M. M. to move to and from the dotted position of Fig. 2. This movement is complete in one revolution of the cross-head, which is disengaged from 'the ratchet wheel 19, and stopped by the bell crank lever R, released from the attendants foot, catching against the tail of the pawl 19 when one'revolution is completed.

The normal position of the brick-removing mechanism is the drawn position of Fig. 2, with the bars m underlying the board whereon the bricks rest. When it is desired, at the time of rest of the carriage O, to remove a load of newly-severed bricks from the machine, the attendant depresses the lever R, and sets the cross head 19. rotating, as before explained. The parallel brick removing mechanism actuated by the links '11. n, is pushed over to the dotted position, raising or sliding the bricks off the arms 0 c and depositing them on any suitable conveyance placed for them, To facilitate the return of the mechanism without the bricks, the arms m. are madewith elbows which give way under the weight of the bricks, on completing the forward movement, to clear the bars m from the board, and straighten again under the influence of springs, during thebackward movement.

v The removal of the bricks must not beeffected except at the proper time, .viz: when the carriage is at rest before it is set in motion by the advancing clay, otherwise a breakage of the. apparatus would result. .If thought necessary, a stop may be provided to prevent the depression of the lever B at any-but the right time.

In the modified arrangement shown at Figs.

6, 7 and 8, the cutting wiresO'. are held in a frame supported by the carriage B, which has only the longitudinal movement as already described. The first wire ,cf, however, or

IOC

that next the die, hasa transverse movement with the carriage G, to sever a length of clay to be cut up into bricks. c. arethe guide bars for the carriage C to slide .on. .Dtis the bridge, which is supported in separate transverse guides d*, and has an independent movementacross the machine. lVhen the stream of clay has started the machine by meeting the stop on the carriage B, a length of clay is immediately severed by the single wire c*, operated by the carriage C, under the influence of the crankJ, which'pulls the carriage across the line of travel of the clay. The advance of the carriage B, at an increased rate, by the cam K, then takes place, so as to clear the severed portion of clay from the advancing stream,as before explained. The bridge D is caught by the hooks q q, pivoted to the carriage C (see Fig. 7), and drawn by the retiring carriage 0 across themachine, thrustleased, and returned to its former position by the counterweights R. In this modification,

the brick-removing mechanism is not shown, but it may be arranged with it, as before.

If from any cause, the cutting or other gear boards, by'meansof lever arms pivoted thereto, and secured on a shaft which is carried by the carriage C, and rocksunder the influence of a lever secured to said shaft, and acted on by a bowl mounted on one of the arms of the of said table, substantially as herein set forth.

brick-removing mechanism.

From theforegoing it will be seen, that, with my arrangement, the cutting table and wires will remain quiescent until a sufficient length of clay is ready for division into bricks, and then, at the proper moment, is the severing automatically effected, and the table returned The rate of advance of Y for a fresh charge. the clay is immaterial as regards the timing of the operation, as the timing depends onlyv upon the position of the clay. There is no danger, therefore, of bricks being spoiled by the attendant omitting to cut off at the right a time, or otherwise improperly operating the, machine; his-only responsibility in the whole the cutter carriage, a rockingframe and mechproceeding, is the removal of the completed bricks, which must .be lifted off with theboard on which they are,-an: operation so simple,

that amistake therein is hardly likely to occur. I i

several mechanisms to be thrown into and out Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be per-1 formed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. In a brick machine, the combination of a die and a press for forcing a stream of clay therethrough, a table movable back and forth 1 in the line of the delivery of the stream of clay from the die, a stop upon said table to be operated upon by the said stream to start the forward movement of the table, a cutter carriage and a cutter thereon movable transversely to and upon the said table for severing the stream of clay transversely, mechan- :ism for advancing the table at an increased 'rate with the severed clay thereon clear of the advancing stream and afterward return- .1 ing thesaid table to a position of rest, mechanism for operating thecutter carriage,a driving shaft, and engaging deviceszbetween said shaft and-said two mechanisms to be thrown into and out of engagement by the movement 2. In a brick machine, the combination of t a die and a-press for forcing a stream of clay I therethrough, a table movableaback and forth a, in the line of the delivery of thestream of I clay from thedie, a stop upon said table to be operated upon by the said stream to start the forward movement of the table, a cutter carriage and cutter thereon movable transversely to and upon said table for severing the stream of clay transversely, mechanism for advanc- ;ing the table at an increased rate with the severed clay thereon clear of the advancing .stream and afterward returning the table to a position of rest, mechanism for operating anism for actuating the same tolift the bricks off the machine, a driving shaft, and engaging devices between the said shaft and said of engagement by the movement of the table,

i substantially as herein setv forth.

SAML. JEFFERIES. Witnesses:

FLORENCE ANNIE J EFEERIEs, STEPHEN ARTHUR J EFFERIES. 

